Yep - I read the book one million years ago and it was ok. (I have a love/hate with Alice Seybold, the author.)

Oh dear.

This was awful and I am absolutely embarrassed for Peter Jackson. I ADORE the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I find it to be a phenomenal theatrical experience and will love it until I leave this world.

However, this movie? Oh boy. It was a tough one to sit through. Yeah, the imagery was cool - however at one point I expected Frodo and Samwise Gamgee to come strolling through the forest. (Truth? I would have been cool with that.) But the movie was just blech. The film was gratuitously long and well... boring.

May it be noted that I really like Stanley Tucci, but really? You can only take 35 creepy, sideways looks from his character, Mr. Harvey. Enough is enough.

OMG and Marky Mark? I'm physically incapable of watching one of his movies without remembering and laughing out loud about that Andy Sandberg/SNL skit that parodies his mad acting skillz, "Hi Donkey. How you doin? You see my latest film? Say hi to you mutha for me." (Google it. I can't watch it because I'm out of the U.S. See here.)